Page 70 of Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe

Aimee raised her eyebrows at him. ‘Alex, we’ve had one drink together. We’re grown-ups. I think you’re safe from me making a pass at you in the future.’

He laughed. ‘Sorry. I’ve had awkward break-ups in the past.’

In fact, Claire hadn’t let go when he had tried to break up with her even though she had been the one to cheat on him. So Aimee’s honesty was refreshing in many ways.

Free from the feeling that any romance between them had felt forced, Alex finally began to relax and they spent the remainder of the evening discussing timing and the right position to hold the yoga sessions. It was a positive outcome for a somewhat disastrous date, he thought as he drove home.

Aimee was pretty and fun to be around. And so he knew the problem with their date was all him and not her at all. The problem was that he still felt the same way about Hannah and, if anything, the date that evening had confirmed it.

He knew that before the summer was over, he was going to have to tell her how he felt. Because the ache in his heart was just too strong for him to be getting over.

He just hoped he didn’t ruin their friendship because of it.

38

Hannah spent the rest of the week trying to hide how upset she was about Alex’s date with Aimee the following weekend.

Thankfully, luck was on her side as he was away on his lifeguard course during the day so she didn’t have to bump into him at the café as usual. And when he returned, Hannah made sure that she had already eaten dinner and made out that she was going to have an early night in her room.

But she couldn’t fool everyone, it seemed. Especially when she made herself scarce before Alex went out on his date.

That Saturday night, Lily came into her bedroom and held up her phone so that she could continue her group call with Beth and Ella.

‘I was having a quiet night,’ moaned Hannah, who was sitting in her bed in her pyjamas.

‘So?’ said Beth. ‘Lily’s worried about you so we wanted to make sure that you’re OK.’

‘Why are you worried about me?’ asked Hannah, looking at Lily as she sat down next to her on top of the covers.

‘Because you’ve been extra quiet this week,’ replied Lily. ‘And I’m worried that this café business is too much stress for you.’

‘It’s fine,’ said Hannah, quickly. ‘Anyway, everyone keeps telling me that it’ll get better as soon as the water sports centre opens in a week’s time. Hopefully they’re right.’

‘Of course we’re right,’ said Ella.

‘So what else is the matter if it’s not the café?’ asked Beth, looking concerned.

Hannah sighed. ‘It’s nothing,’ she told them.

‘I think I know,’ said Lily, in a triumphant tone.

‘What?’ chorused Beth and Ella together.

‘She missed Alex this week,’ announced Lily with a flourish.

Hannah looked at her friend with her mouth open in shock. How did she know?

‘Alex?’ repeated Ella, goggle-eyed.

‘What’s wrong with Alex?’ asked Beth, looking confused.

‘Nothing, actually. He’s one of the good guys and believe me they’re few and far between,’ said Ella.

‘Of course he is,’ said Lily. ‘He’s a great guy.’

‘Exactly,’ said Beth, nodding. ‘He’s decent, you know? Trustworthy.’

And so sexy. The thought popped into Hannah’s head before she could stop it.